Mapping and Communications Relay |
|
The science mission began roughly 90 days after the spacecraft was
captured into orbit about Mars. The primary science phase lasted for
917 Earth days. The science orbit inclination is 93.1 degrees, which
results in a nearly Sun-synchronous orbit. The orbit period is just
under two hours. Successive ground tracks are separated in longitude
by approximately 29.5 degrees and the entire ground track nearly repeats
every two sols, or martian days.
During the science phase and extended mission, the thermal emission imaging system
takes multi-spectral thermal-infrared images to make global maps of the
minerals on the martian surface, and also acquires visible images
with a resolution of about 18 meters (59 feet). The gamma ray
spectrometer takes global measurements during all martian
seasons. The Mars Radiation Environment Experiment collected data on the planet's
radiation environment.
Communications Relay information
|